Method for operating a mobile wireless network

• US 8,457,154 B2
• Filed: 09/07/2012
• Issued: 06/04/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: IPCom GmbH & Co KG
• Original Assignee: IPCom GmbH & Co KG
• Inventors: Hans, Martin, Beckmann, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): JAIN, RAJ K
• Application Number:
  US13/606,993
• Publication Number:
  US 20130035106A1
• Time in Patent Office: 270 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 370/467
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0803 Configuration setting
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/04 Protocols for data compression, e.g. ROHC
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/08 Protocols for interworking; Protocol conversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/18 Multiprotocol handlers, e.g. single devices capable of handling multiple protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/24 Negotiation of communication capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/32 Architecture of open systems interconnection [OSI] 7-layer type protocol stacks, e.g. the interfaces between the data link level and the physical level
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/06 Optimizing the usage of the radio link, e.g. header compression, information sizing , discarding information system modifying transmission characteristic according to link quality by modifying frame length H04L1/0007; dynamic adaptation of the packet size for flow control or congestion control H04L47/365
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 28/16 Central resource management; Negotiation of resources or communication parameters, e.g. negotiating bandwidth or QoS [Quality of Service]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/27 Transitions between radio resource control [RRC] states
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/00 Wireless network protocols or protocol adaptations to wireless operation
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/02 Data link layer protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 80/04 Network layer protocols, e.g. mobile IP [Internet Protocol]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/181 Transcoding devices; Rate adaptation devices

Abstract

A method of operating a mobile wireless network ensures proper function of protocol entities during the transmission of data units between two wireless stations. User data is assembled by a first convergence protocol layer of the first wireless station into at least one first data unit, particularly a packet data unit, before transmission to a second convergence protocol layer of a second wireless station, particularly on the same protocol level, with the user data being supplied to the first convergence protocol layer by at least one user in a network layer. At least one protocol entity of the first convergence protocol layer is configured as a function of a configuration request received by the second wireless station, in order to form the at least one first data unit from the data received from the at least one user and to transmit it through a carrier to a link control layer.

Claims

1. A method for establishing a protocol entity in a convergence protocol layer of a first wireless station such that the protocol entity in the convergence protocol layer of the first wireless station and a protocol entity in a convergence protocol layer of a second wireless station correspond, comprising:

receiving a radio bearer setup message from the second wireless station, wherein the radio bearer setup message requests configuration of a radio bearer in the first wireless station and includes a protocol entity configuration request that requests configuration of the protocol entity in the first wireless station; and

in response to receiving the radio bearer setup message that includes the protocol entity configuration request, configuring the radio bearer and as a function of the protocol entity configuration request received from the second wireless station configuring the protocol entity in a convergence protocol layer of the first wireless station.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the radio bearer setup message includes a protocol entity ID for the protocol entity of the first wireless station.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the radio bearer setup message includes an ID of the radio bearer and the ID of the radio bearer is used as the protocol entity ID.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein configuring the protocol entity includes establishing a one-to-one relationship between the protocol entity of the first wireless station and the radio bearer of the first wireless station.

5. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

receiving a radio bearer reconfiguration message from the second wireless station, wherein the radio bearer reconfiguration message requests reconfiguration of the radio bearer in the first wireless station and includes a protocol entity reconfiguration request that requests reconfiguration of the protocol entity in the first wireless station, wherein the radio bearer reconfiguration message includes the protocol entity ID; and

in response to receiving the radio bearer reconfiguration message that includes the protocol entity reconfiguration request, reconfiguring the radio bearer and as a function of the protocol entity reconfiguration request received from the second wireless station reconfiguring the protocol entity in the convergence protocol layer of the first wireless station.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

sending a radio bearer setup complete message to the second wireless station, wherein the radio bearer setup complete message confirms configuration of the radio bearer and configuration of the protocol entity.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the radio bearer setup complete message further includes protocol entity parameters for the protocol entity in the first wireless station.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

sending a UE (user equipment) capability message to the second wireless station, wherein the UE capability message includes information about protocol entity settings supported by the first wireless station.

9. A method for establishing a protocol entity in a convergence protocol layer of a first wireless station, the convergence protocol layer capable of including a plurality of protocol entities, such that the protocol entity in the convergence protocol layer of the first wireless station and a protocol entity in a convergence protocol layer of a second wireless station correspond, comprising:

receiving a protocol entity configuration request from the second wireless station that requests configuration of the protocol entity in the first wireless station, wherein the protocol entity configuration request is included in a radio bearer setup message; and

in response to receiving the protocol entity configuration request, configuring the protocol entity in the convergence protocol layer of the first wireless station, wherein configuring the protocol entity includes specifying that the protocol entity access a lower layer via a radio bearer to establish a one-to-one relationship between the protocol entity in the convergence protocol layer of the first wireless station and the radio bearer in the first wireless station.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the radio bearer setup message includes a protocol entity ID for the protocol entity in the first wireless station.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

in response to configuring the protocol entity in the convergence protocol layer of the first wireless station, sending a radio bearer setup complete message to the second wireless station confirming configuration of the protocol entity.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

receiving a protocol entity reconfiguration request from the second wireless station that requests reconfiguration of the protocol entity in the first wireless station, wherein the protocol entity reconfiguration request is included in a radio bearer reconfiguration message; and

in response to receiving the protocol entity reconfiguration request, reconfiguring the protocol entity in the convergence protocol layer of the first wireless station.

13. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

sending a message to the second wireless station that includes protocol entity settings supported by the first wireless station.

14. A first wireless station, comprising:

a computing device; and

a mobile wireless communication device connected to the computing device, the mobile wireless communication device operable to transmit and receive communications via a mobile wireless network;

wherein the mobile wireless communication device is operable to receive a radio bearer setup message from a second wireless station, wherein the radio bearer setup message requests configuration of a radio bearer in the first wireless station and includes a protocol entity configuration request that requests configuration of a protocol entity in a convergence protocol layer of the first wireless station, and

wherein the computing device is operable for configuring the radio bearer in response to receiving the radio bearer setup message and as a function of the protocol entity configuration request received from the second wireless station, configuring the protocol entity in the convergence protocol layer of the first wireless station.

15. The first wireless station of claim 14, wherein the radio bearer setup message includes a protocol entity ID for the protocol entity.

16. The first wireless station of claim 15, wherein the radio bearer setup message includes an ID of the radio bearer and the ID of the radio bearer is used as the protocol entity ID.

17. The first wireless station of claim 14, wherein the mobile wireless communication device is further operable to transmit a radio bearer setup complete message to the second wireless station, wherein the radio bearer setup complete message confirms configuration of the radio bearer at the first wireless station and confirms configuration of the protocol entity in the convergence protocol layer of the first wireless station.

18. The first wireless station of claim 14, wherein the mobile wireless communication device is further operable to:

receive a radio bearer reconfiguration message from the second wireless station, wherein the radio bearer reconfiguration message includes a protocol entity reconfiguration request that requests reconfiguration of the protocol entity in the convergence protocol layer of the first wireless station, wherein the radio bearer reconfiguration message includes the protocol entity ID; and

transmit a radio bearer reconfiguration complete message to the second wireless station, wherein the radio bearer reconfiguration complete message confirms reconfiguration of the protocol entity in the convergence protocol layer of the first wireless station; and

wherein the computing device is operable to reconfigure the protocol entity in the convergence protocol layer of the first wireless station.

19. The first wireless station of claim 14, wherein the mobile wireless communication device is further operable to transmit a UE (user equipment) capability message to the second wireless station, wherein the UE capability message includes information about protocol entity settings supported by the first wireless station.

20. The first wireless station of claim 14, wherein the computing device is further operable to specify that the protocol entity use the radio bearer to communicate with an RLC (radio link control) layer in the first wireless station.